Updated on: 27 Jul 2026
MANGALURU: Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader has been conferred with the Global Civics Leadership Award by the American Multi Ethnic Commission (AMEC) in Chicago, recognising his contributions to public service, healthcare, social welfare and civic leadership, officials said on Monday.
According to an official statement, Khader received the award on July 26 in Chicago for his work in governance and public welfare.
Accepting the honour, Khader described the recognition as one of the greatest privileges of his life and recalled Swami Vivekananda’s historic address delivered in Chicago more than a century ago.
He said receiving the award in the same city, which symbolises India’s message of peace, harmony and universal brotherhood, made the honour even more significant.
Khader dedicated the award to the people of Karnataka and India, saying it reflected their faith in democracy, compassion and public service. He also dedicated the recognition to healthcare workers, teachers, public servants, volunteers and citizens committed to serving society.
Highlighting the values of good governance, the minister said public service must be guided by empathy, transparency and justice, while healthcare, education, social welfare and equal opportunity should be treated as fundamental human rights.
“True leadership is defined not by power or position, but by responsibility, compassion and the ability to uplift the most vulnerable sections of society,” Khader said, urging world leaders to build bridges instead of walls, choose dialogue over conflict and replace fear with hope.
During his address, Khader referred to India’s philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World is One Family) and called for global cooperation to tackle challenges such as climate change, public health emergencies, inequality and social polarisation.
He also said his visit to the United States provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between India and the US in healthcare, medical education, nutrition, food science, technology and innovation.
